First look at restored 'Himala' in HD

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Thirty years since it first hit theaters, the Ishmael Bernal classic "Himala" returns to cinemas in restored high-definition quality. Its first stop: the 69th Venice International Film Festival.

The first images showing the restored quality of the Nora Aunor-starrer have been released online. Three comparison screenshots (above) of the original and the restored version show a number of scenes from the 1982 film, which will be screened in the Venice filmfest program titled "Venizia Classici."

Following its Italian debut, "Himala" will also have a local release in cinemas before the end of the year.

"We are planning to re-release it theatrically, on pay TV and cable as well as on DVD. We have big plans for it," said Leo Katigbak, head of ABS-CBN Film Archives.

The award-winning film is the first film to be restored in HD quality by the ABS-CBN Restoration Project, in partnership with Central Digital Lab, Inc.